Chair.



F. MANGAM.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.2-, I9I2.

1,173,829. Patented Fb.29,1916.

r I I WITNESSES 3 d f I r w J INVENTOR 5 Kg All 0:12;: 2} l- Y %W- PH 00., WASHINGTON o c BEA FRANKLIN MANGAM, 0F SARANAC LAKE, NEW YORK.

CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed January 2, 1912. Serial No. 668,835.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANKLIN MANGAM, citizen of the United States, residing at Saranac Lake, in the county of Franklin and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to chairs havin pivoted backs, means for adjustably fixing the backs at various angles of inclination, and springs that tend to raise the backs toward the vertical; and it consists in the .peculiar and advantageous construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chair constituting the best practical embodiment of my invention that I have as yet devised. Fig. 2 isa detail plan illustrating the strap and spring at the opposite side of the chair, with reference to the side shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan illustrative of the rack bar and the guard thereon. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail transverse section illustrative of the manner in which the portion is of the controlling and fastening lever is seated in one of the interdental spaces of the rack, and the remainder of the lever is arranged relative to the rack. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective of said lever. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation showing one of the metallic straps that are interposed between the chair back and the tractile springs.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings. 7

To the chair body A is pivotally connected at a a vertically swinging back B. Connected by swivels b or other suitable means to the front portion of the body A at opposite sides thereof are tractile springs C. The rear ends of the said springs are connected, in an adjustable manner, to the forward portions of metallic straps D which strap portions are telescoped in the springs, as shown. Consequently the springs inclose the forward ends of the straps and effectually prevent said ends from catching into the apparel of a person occupying the chair. At their rear ends the straps D are pivotally connected to the back B, the connections respectively comprising a headed stud 0 fixed to the back, and a key-hole slot (Z in the strap. Arranged at one side of the chair body A and fixed with respect thereto is a rack bar E on which and spaced from the and the rack bar E forming the adjustablyfixing means hereinbefore referred to. At an intermediate point of its length the said lever is provided with upwardly and downwardly extended arms lettered f and 9, re spectively, and on its forward portion the lever is provided with a lateral handle it. This handle, in turn, is provided with up wardly and downwardly extending arms 2' and j, and is also provided, at a point between said arms and the major portion of the lever, with a portion 7c adapted to be seated in the interdental spaces of the rack E. lVith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be manifest that the lever portion is resting in one of the interdental spaces of the rack bar will safely hold the back B in the position in which the same is placed, and at the same time will take all strain olf the spring connections intermediate the back B and the body A. It will also be manifest that when raised out of engagement with the rack, the lever G can be conveniently used to control and render steady the movements of the back B, as when the back is moved rearward by pres sure of a persons back or is moved forward by the contraction of the springs C. It will further be noted that when desired the back B may be swung or moved rearward through the medium of the lever G.

The practical advantage of myv novel chair will be better appreciated when it is stated that a person seated in the chair can conveniently disengage the lever from the rack and then by reclining against the back B swing the same rearward to the extent desired, and then by placing the lever portion in one of the notches or spaces of the rack, can strongly and safely fix the back B in the position stated. Again, when a person is reclining and wishes to change to a more upright position, it is simply necessary for the person to grasp the handle it and lift the lever out of engagement with the rack, and then to rise to the position desired when the springs C will raise the back B and by so doing will assist the person in assuming the upright or approximately upright position. Then when the person places the lever portion in engagement with the rack, the back will be safely locked in the last named position. The tension of the springs C can be regulated to meet different conditions, and when desired the springs may be of such strength as merely to raise the back B to an upright or approximately upright position.

The arms 7 and g of the leverG are disposed at the inner side of the rack bar E and guard F, and the arms and i are disposed at the outer side of and adjacent the rack bar E and guard F. Consequently at all times the lever will be held to and guided on the rack bar and the guard thereof, and lateral deflection of the lever will be effectually prevented. It will also be noted here gagement between the lever portion is and the interdental spaces of the rack.

My novel chair is especially designed for the use of patients taking the fresh air treatment. XV hen the chair is so used the weather is frequently intensely cold, and it is then necessary to place heavy coverings over the patient in the chair. Some of the covering mentioned is disposed at the inner sides of the side arms of the chair and some at the outer sides of said arms, and the arms f g i and j onthe lever G serve the additional and important purpose of holding the covering mentioned away from the rack bar E with-a view to preventing the covering from interfering with the safe cooperation of the lever portion 7a with the rack bar to adjustably fix the chair backwith respect to the body.

It will be gathered from'the foregoing that the locking means comprised in my invention can be put on either side of a chair in the discretion of the manufacturer; the

lever G being reversible so that it can be used on either the left-hand side of the chair, as shown, or on the right-hand side of the chair. It will alsobe'gathered that the rackbar E and the other elements of my improvement can be expeditiously and easily attached to a chair of the type illustrated, 7 without entailing alteration of the chair and having interdental spaces open at its upper edge and 'also havlng a guard arranged above said interdental spaces and fixed at its ends to the rack bar, and a lever pivoted to one side edge of the back and arranged to be swung vertically thereon,and having at an intermediate point in its length upwardly and downwardly extendedarms, disposed and movableat the inner side of the rack bar and guard and also having on its forward portion a lateral outwardly-extending handle; the said handle being provided with upwardly and downwardly extending arms,

' disposed and movable at the outer side of the rack bar and guard, and being also provided, at a point between the said arms and the or portion of the lever, with a transverse portion constructed and arranged to be seated in the interdental spacesof the rack, the upwardly extending arms being carried above the guard and the downwardly extending arms being carried below the rack.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN MANGl-LMJ] Witnesses:

THEODORE WOOD CADY, C. S. BARNET.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 1 

